INSPECTING YOUR HOMES EXTERIOR

Spring is the best time to inspect the exterior of your home. The reason being, if you have any issues with the home, they can be addressed before lots of rain water gets in and make matters worse, and it also allows you an ample amount of time to repair or replace the damaged area.

So grab a pen and note pad and we’ll start on the north side of the house. This is the side that gets the most damage, simply because it does not dry out fast enough without direct sunlight.

Siding: Look for peeling paint, cracked boards or soft wood. If you see any of these things developing on your home siding, you’ll need to take action. While most people agree that a little chipping or flaking of paint is common, if it begins to blister and peel off in little patches it may be a moisture problem within the walls. The best solution at that point may be insulated vinyl siding.

Windows: Again, look for any peeling paint, a cracked frame or soft spots on the sill and the brick molding. If the sill wood is spongy the water damage has been there for sometime. If it makes its way into the wall cavity, it will start rotting the wood within the walls. To make matters worse if there’s an electric outlet beneath the window the water could cause an electrical short or spark and ignite the wall on fire.  Also, cloudy or foggy glass is indicative of seal failure with the glass. In other words it’s not “insulated” glass at that point.

If any of these conditions are present, window replacement might be your best option. If maintenance free is your goal, then I suggest vinyl replacement windows.

Exterior Doors: When you inspect your exterior doors look to see that they are sealing tightly. In the closed position the exterior door slabs top and bottom corners should fit snug against the exterior door stops. There should also be a pliable weather stripping completely around the exterior door stop to prevent air infiltration. Another important aspect of exterior doors efficiency is the condition of the door sweep. This is located on the bottom edge of the exterior door. When closed it should fit tightly against the threshold. If you find that your door suffers from any of these issues it’s probably best to invest in a quality replacement door that will last many years.

Top

Schedule a Free, No Obligation appointment online now Get the home improvements You need fast

Skip to content